Etarr_the_Good wrote:Balthus would like to buy some rations and a shield if possible. (OCC: not sure if any gp was gained yet).

I already processed your request for rations and deduced the corresponding amount of coins from the stash, as mentioned in this post earlier. I assume you mean you wish to buy the shield that is offered to Balthus by Hajdar without further bargaining: it turns out to be a magical shield + 1 (which explains it being so expensive)! Congratulations on this fine purchase.

All: is it decided then that Memphisto stays in Jodcar to finish writing his scroll while the others return to Kal-Dokk's lair to collect Freda's remains? If so, I intend to fast-forward through this part so that Memphisto won't be out of the game. Remember that if you decide to leave the magic-user behind and you happen to run into any wandering monsters, you'll have to deal with that without the powerful second level wizard on your side

As the wizard starts his studies on writing a scroll of Sleep, the rest of the party heads back to the old tower of Kal-Dokk to retrieve Freda’s body from the Forgotten Ossuaries. Just before noon they arrive at the clearing between the ruins and open the heavy trap door. Albin lights a torch and leads the way down the stairs below, then swiftly through the Vermin Infested labs and finally beyond the ancient door leading to the dusty charnel. Freda’s body lies right where the halfling was slain by the skeleton’s rusty blade. The pool of blood in which she lies dried up into a thick, reddish brown puddle: it takes quite the effort to pull up her lifeless body and gently drape it around Holger’s shoulders...

The journey so far has been without any delay but on the way back to the upper level disaster strikes: nine Giant Rats, one of them having a strange, eerie glow to its fur, slightly and rather slowly pulsating in intensity, await them between the stairs leading up to the Abandoned Lab and the stairs leading further up to the outside world. The vermin doesn't seem to be aware of the presence of the adventurers just yet: apparently they haven’t caught onto the scent of Freda’s decomposing body...

Please declare your actions for the surprise combat round...

Wandering monster encounter

Rolling for monster type... 1d6 = 6 ==> Giant Rats

Rolling for # appearing... 3d6 = 9

Suprise

Friends... 1d6 = 6

Foes... 1d6 = 2

The Giant Rats are surprised and so the party gets a free round of combat